Manchester Church of the Brethren
November 21, 2010 Memo
Joys and Concerns
There is much that connects us to each other in this community of faith. Please keep these thoughts in your hearts and minds in the days to come.
Within our church family:
• We rejoice with Kurt Borgmann in the good news he received this week that he will be among 39 recipients nationally of a sabbatical grant from the Louisville Institute in 2011. Kurt’s sabbatical is May through August of 2011.
• We pray for Middle School Youth and Advisors who were on a retreat last weekend.
• Those who were unable to worship with us due to their current health limitations, including: Kathryn Becker, Betty Campbell, Lois Thompson and Evan & Lucile Kinsley.
• Phyllis Pettit recovering at Peabody Transitional Care following her knee replacement Monday, November 15.
• All of those people who choose to keep their concerns close to their hearts.
Within the wider community:
• Our sister church in El Salvador, Emanuel Baptist. We pray for Salvadoran president Mauricio Funes who, after setting ideals for governing and services to the poor patterned after Archbishop Romero, finds change horribly difficult.
• We pray for peace.
Please let us know!
It had come to our attention that there were some problems with our stewardship mailing, but over time we are hearing that the problems were more widespread than we initially thought. It appears that several people did not receive stewardship letters at all, while others received a letter but no commitment card or a commitment card but no letter. If you were one of these persons, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you as we try to assess how wide spread the problem was and take steps to ensure that it does not happen again. Thank you.
Kurt Borgmann
Additions & Corrections to the Directory
Laura Gable: lgable@manchestercob.net
Jim Chinworth: jchinworth@manchestercob.net
Mel & Anita Sautter: amsautter@frontier.com
Randy & Brenda Self: rbself@cinergymetro.net
Sarah Hall
Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel, Centro de Gobierno, Apdo. Postal #1572, San Salvador
EL SALVADOR
The complete list (as we have been given it) of addresses for BVSers is in the church office.
Weekly Calendar
The Family Life Center is open from 8 to 10 am for walking and exercise. Nursery School may use the FLC from 10 to 11.
Monday, November 22
12:00 pm Noon Women’s Bible Study
10:00 am Room 211 in use
6:00 pm Zumba Gold - FLC
6:15 pm Bell Choir rehearsal
7:00 pm Circle of Trust
Tuesday, Nov. 23
9:30 am Peace Patch Preschool / FLC
10:30 am Staff meeting
5:00 pm Weight Watchers – Room 220
6:00 pm Yoga – Narthex
7:30 pm Volleyball
Wednesday, November 24
9:30 am Peace Patch Preschool / FLC
Thursday & Friday building closed in
Observance of Thanksgiving Holiday
November 28 – First Sunday of Advent
9:15 am Advent Musical Prelude
9:30 am Worship. Keep Awake. Pastor Jim Matthew 24: 36-44. Ecclesia Choir
10:30 am Fellowship Time
10:45 am Christian Education
7:00 pm Room 213 in use
Advent Music
During the Christmas Season, get in the spirit by joining us in the sanctuary for the musical prelude before worship. This week, November 28, Emma Naragon is home from college and will be playing a piano solo. Ecclesia Choir will perform “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow” by Larson. Barbara McFadden will play an organ number and we will sing a Christmas Hymn together.
Cookies for the Thrift Shop
Church Women United invites you to bake cookies for the shoppers at the Thrift Shop during December. The volunteers report that the cookies bring smiles of gratitude to the shoppers! Please package six cookies in a plastic bag, closed with a twister. Place them in the designated box at our church entrance or take them to the Thrift Shop. Thank you for adding Christmas Cheer!
Dorothy Weldy, for Church Women United
Fellowship of Churches Report
The Learn More Center brought a plea for tutors. Volunteers are needed to assist literacy students achieve success as adult learners. Specifically, the Learn More Center has 98 people working on their GEDs. Many get discouraged and quit, which creates a hardship on their families. With an encouraging tutor, a student can gain life skills, develop a positive attitude, and literacy for whatever employment they are seeking. To volunteer call the Learn More Center at 982-6138.
REACH assisted 12 clients with utilities, rent and medication. Many of these people have never been in a hardship situation before. They continue to believe it is temporary and have faith that better times are coming. There continues to be the “regulars” who use REACH once a year to supplement their disability income and/or Social Security checks.
The Thrift Shop reported 398.5 volunteer hours (they have 30 volunteers working). While they have plenty of winter coats for adults, they could use coats for children. Socks, hats, gloves and boots in good condition are helpful, too.
The Angel Tree project is in need of able-bodied volunteers to haul packages and make deliveries. Please call Eloise Eberly (982-6527) or Avonne Lee Knecht (982-2538) as soon as possible to sign-up! They will process the gifts at the Town Life Center because they have out-grown the REACH office. While this is a good problem to have, they are in an up-stairs room which will require the elevator for some of the heavy lifting.
Thursday’s Child is housed in the same building as the REACH office and the Thrift Shop. They served 37 children, infant through pre-schoolers and are encouraged by the positive response to the program, as well as being challenged by the demand.
Low Income Housing: the Fellowship Apartment Complex is at 100% capacity.
The Food Pantry call Jodi Barrett (982-2306) to help pack the food boxes on December 6. Volunteer staff drove 413 miles last month and blew the muffler on the truck. 590 individuals came through the Food Pantry last month. This continued growth means they are fast running out of space and will be moving into the adjacent (larger) building space in the spring.
The Messenger Bible Study group will meet on Monday, November 22, at 7 p.m. in the Timbercrest Education Room (at the foot of the elevator in the Manor.) We'll discuss Matthew 19 - 24, with the help of our Bible commentaries. New members are welcome. Please direct questions to Jo Ann Schall.
Piano Recital
Richard Livingston will present a piano recital on Tuesday evening, November 30, at 7:00 in the Timbercrest Chapel. This recital will conclude a series of four recitals featuring the complete Songs Without Words of Felix Mendelssohn that Richard began in 2009 in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Mendelssohn's birth. The recital on November 30 will contain the last dozen of the Songs Without Words, Opus 85 and Opus 102, along with an earlier piece, the "Rondo Capriccioso," Opus 14. The program will last approximately an hour. All are welcome.
Next Food Pantry Delivery is December 5
The Senior High Youth will be delivering to our community's Food Pantry on Sunday, December 5. Please bring your food items and financial gifts this advent season and place them in the Pie Safe in the vestibule.
Children’s Christmas
The Children’s Christmas Giving Project is again in support of the Fellowship of Churches “Angel Tree” project. Angel gift tags can be found on the Narthex Christmas Tree November 28 and December 5. Tags will indicate the age of the recipient and a gift suggestion. Children are encouraged to choose gifts for other children (with parental assistance). Please limit your gift to one per tag, to ensure recipient equality. Wrap your gift, attach the Angel Tree tag, and place it under the Narthex Angel Tree by Sunday, December 12. Questions? Contact Laura Gable at the church (982-7523) or at home (982-2864) or on her cell (578-0378).
Middle School Youth
Thanks to everyone who pitched in for the Brunch on Nov.14! We raised $1552 and are now nearly half way to our goal for next summer's Heritage Tour/National Junior High Conference trip.
Upcoming schedule:
·Dec.4 - 9am-3pm. Caramel Corn making in the church kitchen. Sales are the next day after worship.
·Dec.10 - 6-7:30pm. Friday night in the FLC. Dress warm!
Looking ahead: Registration for the National Junior High Conference opens Monday, January 10, 8 pm EST. The first 800 registrants will secure a spot at the conference held at Elizabethtown College. Brochures arriving this week.
Senior High Youth
·Friday, Dec.3 - 5:15-8pm. Child care for "Parent's Night Out." Be at the church in time to greet the children. Following the childcare, "Just the girls/guys" will be held at Sautter's and Chinworth's. 8:30-11:30pm.
·Next Pantry Sunday is December 5.
·Sunday, December 12 - next youth meal.
Looking ahead: CCS registration begins Wednesday, January 5 at 8 pm EST. The first 100 registrants will secure a spot for this event held in New York City and Washington DC the end of March. Info can be found at www.brethren.org.
Middle School Sub Sale
The next Middle School sub sale will be December 19. Forms will be available in the next MEMO and CONNECTIONS and in the bulletin Dec.5 and 12. Funds support the group's Heritage Tour and National Junior High Conference (Elizabethtown College) trip.
CPR and AED training
Do you ever wonder what you would need to do for a choking child or how to respond to someone feeling unwell and maybe has chest pain? Monday, Dec 6, from 6-9pm you can learn these skills along with CPR and AED training. We need to know if you plan to attend by Nov 22. For those interested in CPR training and certification and this date will not work for you, let us know so we can plan another training session. The class cost $20.
Call the church office, Debbie Chinworth at 982-4881 or Ann Hartsough at 982-6131.
Holden Evening Advent Services
We are partnering with the Zion Lutheran Church again this year for the Holden Evening Advent Service by Marty Haugen. The 30-minute service is one of singing, reflection, scripture and candlelight. Advent is a time of waiting, of hopefulness. This service provides you space to experience the anticipation of the birth of Jesus, the light of the world. All services are at 6:30 pm. The locations for the service are: December 1 – Manchester Church of the Brethren, December 8 – Zion Lutheran Church, December 15 – Timbercrest Chapel. All ages are welcome.
District Special Response Hearings
Standing Committee Delegate Jeff Castetter has scheduled Special Response Hearings. These are facilitated discussions to assist the Standing Committee of Annual Conference in formulating its recommendations to next year’s Annual Conference regarding the 2008 Standing Committee Statement of Confession and Commitmentand the 2009 Query: Language on Same-sex Covenantal Relationships.Please put this hearing on your calendar to participate in the process of listening, as well as giving input:
· Saturday, December 4, 9:30-11:30 am at Grandview C/B
Disaster Response Opportunities
Winamac, Indiana, Flood Recovery project this coming December 12-18, We are asking for volunteers for painting, and finish work as the project winds down. If you can help, contact Cliff Kindy at kindy@cpt.org or phone 260-982-2971.
The Haiti Workcamp information packet is available in the church office.
Please call Cliff Kindy at 982-2971 to volunteer.
Congregational Christmas Greeting
While Stewardship Commission has not yet designated a recipient (or recipients) for the Christmas Card Offering we will once again “grow a Christmas Tree” from your designated gifts to the Christmas Greeting Fund.
Advent Offering: Prepare the Way!
Your gifts to the Church of the Brethren Advent Offering Prepare the Way for Christ’s perfect peace and justice to be born again into the world. Together we provide a host of wonderful gifts for our brothers and sisters, our neighbors and even those who might be considered enemies. Such gifts tell the Good News of God’s presence with us through the birth of the Christ Child. You will find a special envelope in your Sunday bulletin. Please return it to the offering plate on December 5, the focus date for this special denominational offering.M E M O R A N D U M
SOUTH/CENTRAL INDIANA DISTRICT
DISTRICT EXECUTIVE MINISTER
This is a THREE-QUARTER-TIME position available April 1, 2011.
The South/Central Indiana District comprises 46 congregations in the middle third of the state of Indiana. These congregations average worship attendance ranges from 10 to 350. They are predominantly small congregations located in small towns and rural settings. The district is theologically diverse. The preferred candidate demonstrates initiative, adaptability, and capacity to envision future ministry. The district office is currently located in North Manchester.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Serve as Executive Officer of the District Board.
· Facilitate the implementation of the core ministries of the District.
· Assist congregations and pastors with search and call of ministerial leadership.
· Assist congregations and pastors with the development of wholesome relationships.
· Assist congregations with church growth initiatives.
QUALIFICATIONS:
· A clear commitment to Jesus Christ demonstrated by a vibrant spiritual life.
· A commitment to Church of the Brethren faith and heritage.
· A commitment to the Seven Core Values of the District.
· Master of Divinity or equivalent.
· Minimum of 5 years of pastoral or related experience.
· Strong personal, communication and mediation skills.
· Strong administrative, management and budget skills.
· Respect for theological diversity.
· A willingness and ability to travel across the District on a regular basis.
Interested and qualified persons may apply for this position by sending a letter of interest and a resumé via e-mail to:
Applicants are requested to contact 3 or 4 persons who are willing to provide a letter of reference. Upon receipt of the resumé, the individual will be sent a Candidate profile that must be completed and returned before the application is considered complete.
Application deadline: December 17, 2010
Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Church of the Brethren
Executive Director, Office of Ministry
1451 Dundee Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
800-323-8039 ext 466 (office)
847-644-1153 (cell)
mjflorysteury@brethren.org
South/Central Indiana District Church of the Brethren Office
604 N Mill St., N Manchester, IN 46962-1835
Phone: 260-982-8805; Fax: 260-982-7181
Toll Free: 877-730-9315
District Minister: wagfam1@frontier.com
Office Email: scicob@kcaccess.com
District Website: www.cob-net.org/church/isc/
